Baidu Sues Qihoo 360 for Unfair Competition

<- August 19, 2010 ->

Xinhuanet, 8/19/10

Chinese internet firm Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) has filed suit against Chinese online security software developer Qihoo 360 for unfair competition. Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court has accepted the case.

Baidu alleges that version 7.0 of Qihoo 360's 360 Safe Guard PC security software identifies Baidu Toolbar and Baidu Address Bar for Internet Explorer as malware plugins that may harm users' computers, and recommends removal.

Baidu has requested the court order the defendant to cease all unfair competition-related activities, cease embedding Baidu search results in its 360 "Net Shield" software, cease identifying Baidu Toolbar and Baidu Address Bar as malware and preventing their installation, download and use. Baidu also requests that the defendant publish a public apology on its websites (www.qihoo.com and www.360.cn) for thirty days, as well as on the homepages of Sina (Nasdaq: SINA), Legal Daily, Beijing Youth Daily and the Beijing Evening Post, as well as pay RMB 10 mln in compensation, RMB 150,000 in expenses and cover all legal costs.

Keywords: Internet malware security Baidu 360 Safe Guard legal BIDU Qihoo 360 Baidu Toolbar litigation Beijing No.2 Intermediate People's Court penalty online search